Marpenoth 27, 1372 DR Dagger Falls

"Let me do the talking," says Brianna. The party boldly approaches the
gate and knocks.

A small flap opens in the door and an eye peers out at them. "What's
your business in Dagger Falls?" says the guard.

"We're just travelers, passing through on our way to Shadowdale," says
Brianna, hoping the road they were on wasn't coming from
Shadowdale.

"Unless you have business in town, you can't come in."

"Oh, come on," wheedles Brianna. "We're no threat to you. We want an
inn, and tankards of ale. What are you worried about?"

"You know...dangerous things. I can't let you in. Wait here."

A few minutes later, he returns with the Captain of the guard. He looks
the small party up and down. "You don't look dangerous."

"We are too dangerous," says Igor. "But not to you."

"Are you heroes?" says the Captain. "Can you help us?"

"Of course we are heroes," says Brianna.

"Wait here." The Captain closes the gate and goes away. Soon he
returns and says "Randal Morn, the Lord of Daggerdale, wishes to see you
at once. Follow me."

The party follows the Captain and is shown directly into the presence of
Randal Morn. He looks at them doubtfully. "Heroes, eh? What have you
done?"

"Why do you care?" says Igor.

Brianna turns to him. "Let me do the talking, Igor." She turns
back to Randal Morn. "Let me sing you a song of our deeds and you can
judge for yourself."

Randal Morn smiles. "That seems like as good a way as any."

Brianna pulls out her lute and starts tuning it. She considers which
song she should sing to Randal Morn. The only feat of this party
that she was qualified to sing about was the defeat of Vecna.
Unfortunately, Brianna's ballad in praise of Veracity would not do:
although that was by far the most popular ballad in Sigil about that
deed, it really didn't praise anybody except Veracity - who was not
present. She'd have to take the artistically inferior effort of one of
her colleagues and modify even that. From what she knew of the
prejudices of the Dalelands - of all of Faerûn, for that matter -
she would be wise to modify any references to the race of Hazen and
Elvira and Veracity.

Satisfied with the tuning, Brianna raises her eyes and begins to play.
"I sing of the fall of Vecna ..."

Brianna finishes her balled. Randal Morn sighs. "If only half of what
you sing about is true, you are mighty heroes. I need your help. I can
summarize our problem in one word: drow. You know - dark elves."

"Not all drow are bad" says Kress.

Randal Morn peers at him. "I know of no good ones," he says. "The drow
used to emerge from the Underdark and raid in the Dalelands, but the
last such raid was many years ago. Recently, however, several parties
of drow have emerged from the Underdark and attacked the farms near the
Dordrien Crypts." The party shifts and looks at each other
questioningly. "I need a party of brave adventurers to go down there
and stop these raids. These are worse than typical drow raids: rather
than bursting forth and seizing goods and slaves to take back to the
Underdark, These drow just seem intent on slaughter. Help us,
please."

Brianna speaks: "We will be delighted to help you. Can you give us
directions to the Dordrien Crypts?"

"Of course!" says Randal Morn. "They are a mere ten miles from here.
You will go there and stop these raids?"

"Yes," says Brianna.

Randal Morn gives her clear directions and offers: "you can stay here
tonight and we will be happy to equip you in any way we can."

Brianna protests. "Oh, surely we can stop at the tavern and hoist some
mugs of ale and talk to the locals, Igor?"

Igor shakes his head. "Think, Brianna. There are parties of raiding
drow out - and parties of drow hunters as well, I warrant. We should
get back to our friends."

Brianna nods. "You are correct." She turns to Randal Morn. "We must
rejoin our companions - several of whom were mentioned in my song."

"Ah," says Randal Morn. "I had thought your party was a bit small.
This makes me more hopeful. Good luck!"

Brianna, Igor, Kress and Hazen return to the drow. "They want us to go
on a drow hunt - in the Dordrien Crypts!" says Brianna.

"You guys didn't even ask for a reward," says Hazen.

Tebryn turns to the grey dwarf. "These random drow
incursions may be connected to Maerimydra," he says. "Lolth
being silent and all - something is wrong down there.
We might stop the raids, although they're not our concern,
but do you think that we'll come marching up - drow and all - and say
"we did it for you! Pay us!" after we are done? I think not."